Deem and pass explained

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer lead the Democrats on health care reform.

Ever heard of "deem and pass" before?

It may sound like a football play, but it's actually House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favored procedural maneuver to pass health care reform in the lower chamber.

Such legislative gymnastics have Republicans up in arms.

"There is no precedent for what the Democrats are doing with this deception," said Florida Rep. Cliff Stearns on March 15, 2010. "We have never written a reconciliation bill to amend a law that does not exist."